Oregon grandmother faces eviction over U.S. flag

KGW.com: Elodia Royce has always displayed our nation’s flag in support of her family members and friends serving in the military. “They fought for our freedoms and this is a freedom I should have,” said Royce.

Last week she got a notice from her landlord that the flag in her window must come down or she could be evicted. “It says all colored drapes need to be removed from the windows, but our flag is not a drape,” said Royce.

Royce said her apartment manager actually approved the flag the day she moved in the the Happy Valley complex nearly six years ago. “I asked if I could put it out on a pole and she said no, but when I asked if I could hang it in my window she told me OK,” said Royce.

Flags are not mentioned in the lease agreement Elodia showed KGW.

Troy Pickard is an attorney specializing in landlord-tenant law. He pointed to an Oregon statute that appears to point in Elodia’s favor.

“It says when a tenant is breaking some kind of rule and the landlord knows about it, but keeps accepting rent for three rental periods, then the landlord gives up the right to terminate that tenancy because of that rule violation,” said Pickard.

Elodia has been displaying the flag for nearly 6 years.

The grandmother of nine said she’s a quiet person who hates conflict, but she’s not backing down. Her daughter and grandson also live in the same apartment complex.

“I did tell my daughter I may have to move and my grandson started crying, then my daughter said if you have to move, we will move too,” said Royce.

The notice says her flag must come down by Monday or she may face possible eviction.

Newschannel 8 left messages with Royce’s landlord, Cascade Rental Management, but have not heard back from them.

DCG

For tenants like Royce facing possible legal issues, Oregon does have a statewide tenant’s rights organization.

0 responses to “Oregon grandmother faces eviction over U.S. flag”

“It says when a tenant is breaking some kind of rule and the landlord knows about it, but keeps accepting rent for three rental periods, then the landlord gives up the right to terminate that tenancy because of that rule violation,”
She should tell the landlord she wishes to have a Judge settle this,and hand the landlord a print-out of this Statute. Bet it all goes away.

It’s way past tme to take a stand on the desecration of the American Flag. From the Thirteen Stars to the Fifthy Stars has shown how this country has grown and we should be proud of it. Even though I’ve lost faith in the government, I’ve never lost faith in God and my Country. The Judges of todays world will probably rule against her but if you don’t try we will never have freedom of speech.

Well regardless of the landlord’s claim, the statue trumps the landlord’s complaint, ergo they lose. Although folks really should look into the things about the flag, such as why it is illegal to burn it (“it is considered a living thing”), which makes that much more sense when you look at the giant pagan goddess statue in new york harbour, that was known to the romans as libertas, and to the greeks as eileithyia (the mix of these two is thought to be the primary source of the statue), and eileithyia had a son, sosipolis, the “god of the city” whose garment, was a star-spangled robe. Anyone not believing this, is welcome to look at U.S. Code, and look at roman & greek mythology. Personally I think a different flag would be more apropriate (one without 13 of anything). Do I think that landlord knows any of this? Nope, I think they’re just being a jerk, looking to bully an elderly lady (likely for resale of her abode to another renter, that they already have lined up, that may be more lucrative).

I should add I don’t believe the woman is aware of that either, she thinks it is a good thing, as many do.